Automatic fire extinguishing system



s. H. BROOKS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 056.20. WIS.

1 ,307,6 1 3. Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I witvwooeo S. H. BROOKS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20. 19l5.

Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wirbwamico S. H. BROOKS. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATDN HLED DEC.20 I915.

Patented June 24, 1919.

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S. H. BROOKS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20| I915.

Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- a Woman;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN H. BROOKS,

0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Application filed December 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. BROOKS, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire- Extinguishing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic fire extinguishing systems, more especially applicable to storage tanks for holdinginflammable liquids, and it comprises the special features pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an automatic fire extinguishing system that is especially adaptable to inflammable liquid tanks, though equally desirable for other purposes. The lll'lPlOVOll'lBntS insure a greater immunity from fire and an absence of extreme hazard with more certainty of speedy cxtinguisln'ucnt than is secured by such precautionary and protective measures as have been heretofore used in this class of service. A very important feature of my invention lies in the fact that inflammable material tanks, such for instance as the large numbers of oil tanks, which are situated usually in the open country are quite subject to lightning strokes at any time and set on fire. A tank thus struck by lightning, in a very short time is liable to become a raging furnace whose flames cannot practically be extinguished by ordinary means, and ineffectually by prior proposals because the speed of action of the extinguishing material is too slow. In view of these very severe conditions it is essential that any extinguishing system designed for such uses must be automatic in its operation, positive and quick enough to operate and extinguish the fire within a few seconds of its start and before it has a chance to assume uncontrollable proportions.

Among other distinctive features may be mentioned, the use of thermo releases, such for instance as automatic extinguishing material outlets or distributing heads placed within containing tanks, a chemical solution container with suitable connections to the distributing heads, a non-freezable gas pro ducing and fire extinguishing chemical solution, a suitable pressure system adapted to force the extinguishing material out of the distributing heads.

lVith such provision it is positively as- Specifibation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Serial No. 67,946.

sured that a tire starting in an inflammable material tank will be quickly and completely extinguished at its inception in an automatic manner without depending upon manual control or supervision, regardless of low temperature or other conditions.

With these and other ends in View I illustrate in the accompanying drawings such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad fundamental features without limiting myself to the specific details shown.

Figure 1* instances, in elevation, a single tank with an automatic fire extinguishing system applied in which the solution container is suitably supported beneath the roof of the tank and the pressure means are located on the ground outside of the tank.

Fig. 52 is a partial plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a solution feeder head. accommodating a plurality of distributing pipes and thermo outlets.

Fig. lis an elevation of a means for introducing solution into a container when placed inside of a storage tank.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a solution container with its pressure system for a single storage tank, the solution outlet not being shown.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a single storage tank, with the solution distributing pipes entering from the outside, the solution container and pressure system being on the ground.

Fig. 7 is a reduced size plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8- a detached elevation of a fuel tank, similar to Fig. 6 but with the solution container and pressure system supported on a suitable platform attached to the tank. near its upper edge.

Fig. 9--

a diagrammatic view of a centrally controlled solution container and the distribution of its contents to one or more storage tanks, being an enlargement in substance of the left half of Fig. 14 based on Fig. 12.

Fig. 10 is a detailed instance of an electric alarm arranged to signal rising pressures. I

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, the parts however arranged to send in an alarm under lowering pressures.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of a group of tanks served by separate pipe lines from a single solution container.

Fig. 13 is also a diagrammatic plan View f a group of tanks supplied by a single pipe system from a centrally located solution container.

Fig. 14' is an elevation of a solution container house with its distributing pipes, pressure regulators, alarm gages, etc.

Fig. lo is a partial side elevation of Fig. 14'.

Fig. 16-" is a front elevation of a pressure indicating alarm gage.

Fig. 17- is an elevation oi a method for making contact to the indicating pointer, to send in an alarm at any prearranged pressure.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of an elastic self adjusting contact adapted to positively contact with the pointer Without stressing its connections ii' the pressure passes a given point.

Fig. 19- is an elevation of a thermo outlet head.

A practical arrangement of parts to accomplish the automatic extinguishment of lires in strange tanks, etc., must include means for anton'latically releasing the extinguishing solution at a predetermined temperature; to automatically set a pressure system into operation so as to accelerate the delivery of the solution and lock such means against accidental restoration or self-closure due to a reduction in pressure of the expelling agent thus insuring that the How of the extinguishing solution is not stopped after it has been set into action. Furthermore it is important that any leakages which may arise in any part of the system be automatically signaled to a central point, indicating Which individual tank, or group of tanks is in the trouble zone or at What point outlets have been opened through the pres ence of a fire; or where specific leaks have arisen. \Vith such precautions taken the extreme hazards heretofore existing in risks of this kind are obviated and disastrous losses avoided.

In systems of this class it has been the practice heretofore to use solution ex elling agents that in themselves possessed hre extinguishing properties Whether employed individually or combined with other mediums. In my system any suitable gas may be used as an expelling agent only and dependence for the extinguishing function placed on a special non-freezing solution, for instance one having carbon tetrachlorid as a base, which is forced from its container into the fire space so as to very suddenly develop a blanket of eXtinguishing gas around the flame which quickly deprives it of suflicient oxygen for its continuance and thus extinguishes the fire. In this way a material saving of the fire extinguishing medium is effected over the methods heretofore used, when flames are played on from a distance instead of introducing the extinguishing which a solution container is located and from Which the distributing mains proceed.

In the case of individual tanks 1 (Fig. 1) being served by a container 5 this is placed within the same on a suitable tower close under the roof or cover 3 in which man holes 14 may be formed to provide access to the inside of the tank. Above the container 5 an opening is made in the roof :1 to just adniit one end of a T (Fig. -1 which is closed by a plug l The other r-nd of this T is connected to tank 5 by a short pipe 9 and the side opening of the T receives pipe 17 through which the expelling pressure is led to the container from a suitable pressure cylinder 20 conveniently located (Figs. 1 and 2). The chemical solution is placed in the container 5, on the removal of plug 10. through the T and pipe 9.

An outlet for the solution is made in the bottom of the container 5 (Fig. 3) and pipe 12 is placed therein so as to also connect with the distributing head 13 which supports a series of pipes 14 to the ends of which automatically opening outlets or distributers 15 of standard type (Fig. 19) or any automatic controls are attached. The exit from the outlets 15 is so related to the pressure to which the solution is subjected that the latter is expelled through the outlets in a. finely divided state.

The cylinder '20 is connected to a pressure pipe 17 through a reducing valve 23. Between this valve and the cylinder a gage 24 is placed which on account of its response to varying pressures calls the attention of the attendant to the pressure pr *sent in the cylinder at any moment. Likewise gage 25 calls attention to the value of the reduced pressure in the service pipe 17. When repairs, etc., are needed or when container 5 is being filled a suitable shut off valve 26 in pipe 17 is closed so as to shut (ill the pressure from the container.

When thecontainer 5 is located outside of a tank 1, either on the ground or on an elevated platform the pressure and filling connections instanced in Fig. 5 may be used, in Which case a pipe 7 is Substituted for pipe 9 shown in Fig. 4. This pipe has a filling cap 11 through which a pressure pipe 8 that terminates near the bottom as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 is introduced.

The cap 11 is removed for charging the tank 5. This pipe is connected to a pressure cylinder 20 by the service pipe 17 through shut ofi valves 19 and 26. The attention of the attendant is called to the existence ofa leak in the delivery system or to the activity of outlets 15 by means of an electric alarm gage 18 from which wires 52 lead to a gong 51 which may have any well known type of annunciator connected therewith to indicate the specific location of the trouble.

If the containers 5 are to be supported above the ground on the outside of tanks 1 they may be held by a platform 34 (Fig. 8) resting on frame Work 35. The platform is made accessible by ladder 36 and besides a container 5 a pressure cylinder 20 is also supported thereon. The system of distribution used in connection with Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is practically the same whether container 5' is located on the ground or supported from the tank near its top. In both cases a. hand shut off valve such as 19 and 26 is placed in pipe 17 and an automatic reducing valve 23 is also connected in this pipe. Alarm gages 18 are connected to pipe 17 at any desired point between cylinder 20 and container 5.

In both cases, whether the container 5 is above or on the ground, the extinguishing solution is delivered through a main 27 to a sub-main 29 from which radial pipes 28 of various lengths according to the tanks served lead to the inside of tanks 1. In the case of very large diameter tanks the pipes 28 it they are to terminate near the center may be supported at 32 from the suspension 33, in addition to the supplemental pipe or sleeve 30 which may be used alone in the case of shorter pipes, or in other cases pipes 28 are made self supporting. The important thing is to have a sufiicient number of pipes 28 with constricted outlets 15 inside of the tank located at the most efiicient distance from each other and so placed that a sudden explosion which would simply destroy the roof supports would not injure the outlets 15 and their connections. External brackets 31 may be used to support the sleeve 30 and also the submain 29 against sagging, etc.

A sudden explosion of a fuel tank subjects the liquid contents to an instantaneous inrush of free air Whose oxygen combines most rapidly with the carbon of the fuel, re sulting in an uncontrollable fire unless the extinguishing material is applied practically simultaneously, at any event, before the flames have spread, so as to spray an ample quantity of extinguishing medium into the heated space thereby quickly forming a gaseous blanket to reduce the amount of external oxygen that would otherwise combine unrestrictedly with the carbon contained beneath the blanket By preventing the free combination of oxygen and car icon the flame is extinguished. One way in which this is accomplished is through tlu use of a restricted outlet as is commonly found in sprinkler heads similar to that in stanced in Fig. 11). Reduced size outlets, whether of one form or another produce an increase of velocity at these points which in turn changes a stream of solution to a mist or blanket in which each of the finely divided globules on account ol the relative great increase of exposed ar a become inultitudinous centers for neutralizing the tend ency of comminglcd carbon particles to unite With the required amount of oxygen to become ignited. The use of the same amount of solution in an undivided state would be entirely insufficient to extinguish a given blaze.

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate an alarm gage in which may be formed from an ordinary indi eating pressure gage. Such gages arc usually provided with :1 dial 58 having an opening about its center. Movable supports (3:3 are adjustable around the edge of the open ing. They carry insulatcd contact springs (52 and (52' adapted to engage with the pointing portion ol the hand 61 for extreme positions of low and high pressure when the range is large. For small range variations both portions of the hand may contact. with the springs 62, 62 so long as the sup ports 63 can be placed more than 180 degrccs apart, the pointing portion of the hand serving to signal low and the other a high pressure. The electric circuit comprises a bell 51, and well known annunciator, not shown, Wires 552. battery, ground to pipe line, pivot 60, hand 61 and one or the other contact springs 62, 62.

\Vhenever a special pressure alarm, without needle indication is desired the details instaneed in Figs. 10 and 11 may be fob lowed. Fig. 10 serving for rising pressures and Fig. 11 for lowering ones, or both could obviously be combined in one device, the upper and lower limit contacts being adjust able to vary both the range and the limit points. They may be connected to pipes 17 and 46 or at any other needed location. A cylinder 55 has a plunger and stem 57 that are spring actuated. The stem passes be tween contacts 56 connected to wires 52 of the alarm circuit.

A modified form of alarm gage is instanced in Fig. 18 adaptable when indicating and alarm features combined in a specially constructed instrument. This modification comprises an insulated circular contact plate 64 that may be clamped in various angular positions by screw 65. It has an arm 67 to which contact pin 68 is attached. When the pointer 61 engages the pin 68 its further progress is not blocked and its connected mechanism is not strained because pin 68 and its arm 67 may move with the pointer under the tension of spring 69. As

the pointer moves in an opposite dirm-tion spring (it) brings arm 07 against stop (36 which determines the point at which the alarm is first signaled, remaining in contact until the former condition is again restored. ()l course these various details need not be Followed as any standard devices may be employed for alarm pressure gages.

The pressure system, whether applied to individual tanks 1, 1 or tanks 2 placed in group arrangement, in the main, utilizes thisame features. It comprises a suitable cylinder 20 to which one or more reducing valves 23 are attached (Figs. and 11). Between such valves and the cylinder 20 pressure gages 21 are placed to call the attention ot the attendant when the cylinder pressure drops to a predetermined point. The pressure in the cylinders 20 may be called big-h", in pressure main 1.7 intermediatc and that in -16, 45), etc., low Suit-- able gages notit'y the attendant ol' the pressure in the latter system of pipes and valves 26 are used to shut oil the pressure beyond them in case of repairs, etc. The expelling gas in cylinder 20 is only used to rapidly force the chemical solution from containers 5, 5 and 6. When tanks 2 are grouped on each side of a central container (5 (Fig. 12) a cylinder 20 may be arranged to serve two duplicate sets of distriluiting pipes 46 as also shown in Fig. 14 so as to hold, through the closing of valves 48, a control or pilot pressure in such pipes beyond automatic valves 21 which serves to signal through alarm gages 18 whether leaks have developed and where they are located at the same time acting against the main pressure of the solution from container 6 so long as there is no opening in the delivery system. The difference between an installation for individual tanks and a grouped system resides in the fact that for the former, the solution pressure reaches to outlets direct, while in the latter it only extends as far as valves 21.

In single tank equipments Figs. 1 and 8 the automatic feature lies in the opening of outlets 15 which instantly release the contents of containers 5 and 5 under an intermediate expelling pressure of gas at about 100 pounds per square inch from cylinder which is stored in the vacant space of the containers, above the solution (Fig. 5) and which is sufiieient to drive out the entire contents of the containers without, if necessary, making any extra demand on the high pressure gas remaining in the cylinders. here tanks are grouped the automatic function depends on two conditions, on the opening of outlets 15 and the presence of a low control pressure in the delivery pipes between such openings and automatic valves 21 located in each service pipe 46. \Vhcn this prcssuire lowers in one or more pipes 46 the spring pressed .hcad T2 (Fig. 9) o'l' valve 21 rises, opening it. For the free outlet of the (.hclilical solution from the container 6. ilUlll demands l'or control and expulsion are met by a single pressure cylinder 20 (Fig. II) in which the gages 31,23, reducing valve 213 and hand \alvc 213 shown at the lclt of i flllltitl' 2t) serve the low pressure mains it), pipes -l T and lo while those shown on the right hand side serve the container 6 at an llIiK'J'IHPtilHiU11H sure through pipe 17 ahown in Figs. 5) and ii. In the iorn'nr ligure only one set of pipes iii and connecting niain 19 is shown, the connection for another group being indicated in l ig. 1-l.

'hcu storage tanks 2 are arranged in groups (Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15) the (201% ia nci (i is. held on supports 12 placed on any iahlc elevat d platform .Zi which is upluhi by a li'nru- 'c'orl'. 5H. rool Illl and :-iding li int-lose the container and entralixcd pressure r-zvstcni. The container U is filled through pipe connection ll (Fig. 15) during which time valve lit in pressure pipe 17 is closed. The chemical 5-.olution. for instance, one having a carbon tet .ltflllfil'ltl base. is led from the container through a pipe ii") to valve -l lwhich shuts oil. the flow when repairs or other exigencies demand. From here the solution passes to one or more headers or manifolds to which individual service pipes 46 are attached. These lead to dis'atributing mains 53 and to laterals 5t which may feed any desired system of outlets. In Fig. 13 a single service pipe 46 is instanced. suitably connected to valve 22 and automatic valve 21. I11 such installations it may be found desirable to place an automatic thcrn'iostatic alarm 70 in each tank 2, using separate circuits 52 for eacl'i alarm, connecting the same as in other cases to an indicating system so as to show What tank or tanks have been ignited. In group installations the pressure cylinder 20 supplies gas at two different pressures, a relatively low one through valves 23 and 26 subject to gages 25 and 24 (shown at the left hand side of cylinder 20 Fig. 9) to one or more pressure mains 49 which are connected to feeders 47 by valves 48.nlso shown at the left of cylinder 20 in Fig. 14. As heretofore stated alarms may be located wherever needed and if desired may be connected to cylinder 20 to signal the attendant when the cylinder is nearly empty.

The alarm gages 18 are included in each branch 47 and separate valves placed beneath them serving to isolate the gages when required. Valves 48 similarly serve to cut off any one of the branches 47 connected to companion distributing pipes 46 that are held in 2 bars 50 to keep them properly spaced. Valves 48 are shut OK after a loW pressure has been established in pipes -16 from a cylinder 20.

The action or the group system instaneed in Figs. 9, 14 and 15 may be described as follows. The high pressure of cylinder 20 is lowered by one of the reducing valves 23 to an intermediate pressure of about 100 pounds per square inch and is led by pipe 17 to tank 6 thus subjecting the fluid to this pressure as the gas expands into the vacant space above the solution container (3. This pressure prevails up to automatic valves 21, beyond which the gas coming into pipes all; through main 4!) is held at a low pressure of say -10 pounds per square inch. As soon as an outlet opens for any reason this pres sure will be reduced and when it has dropped to about 10 pounds per square inch automatic valve 21 suddenly opens through springs 71, forcing pressure plate 72 upward. Gravity arms 7 3 pivoted at 71 drop under the plate 72 thus securely lock it to hold the valve in wide open position to allow an unrestricted flow of fire extinguishing solution at the intermediate pressure through the lines 46, past valves -14, 22 and 21 to the point where the fire is located.

In carrying out fire extinguishing methods applied to tanks containing inflammable material it is extremely important to catch the fire as soon as possible after it starts and at once project the non-freezing extinguishing solution into the fire area at a continuous predetermined pressure in the shape of a blanket of finely divided gasifiable particles which will almost instantaneously ex tinguish the fire. Such a result cannot be attained by simply throwing a solid stream of the same solution onto a fire because the blanketing gas will not be spread over the fire area but will only exist in the vicinity where the solution strikes the surface of the material which is being consumed. It requires a higher temperature and more time to turn a flowing stream of the extinguishing solution into a. gas than if the solution is delivered into the fire area in a finely divided state hence the results must be much slower, possibly permitting the flames to gain an uncontrollable headway. It should be understood that the terms fuel, inflammable liquids. etc., include as equivalents for the purpose of this description and claims all inflammable materials when confined in tanks.

Alarm gages 18 may be set to signal when.

the control pressure in pipes 46 drops to about 20 pounds per square inch or to any other predetermined value. It will be noted that the system. requires no 'manual supervision after the solution container has been charged and a pressure tank connected to the system all line troubles being automaticall locate. by alarm gages 18 so that the engi neer or watchman can give the required attention with the least loss of time.

The alarm gages 18 signal a reduction to about 20 pounds in the pressure of pipes 416, etc., caused by a leak in such pipes. The valve 21 will not be opened at the leakage alarm pressure until the pressure is further reduced to about 10 pounds per square inch through a sprinkler head becoming active. After the flow in pipes 46 has been stopped and valve 21 re-set, valve 48 is re-opencd lo charge pipe 46 with a control pressure after which it is again closed to conserve the pressure in cylinder 20 which would otherwise be wasted and not enough gas would be left to expel the extinguishing solution from the containers.

What I claim is,

1. In automatic fire extinguishing systems, a suitable tank for inflammable materials, a chemical container, automatically operated outlets within the tank, connections therefrom to the container, a fire extinguishing solution in the container, an independent gas holder connected therewith, an expelling gas in the holder adapted to subject the ex tinguishing solution in the container and in the connections between the outlets and the container to a predetermined constant pressure before and when flow in an outlet is antomatically established at a set temperature, the relation between the exit of the outlets and the pressure maintained in the connections to such outlets being such that the extinguishin solution is expelled in a finely divided state.

2. In automatic fire extinguishing systems, a suitable tank for inflammable materials. a chemical container, reduced area ontlets connected thereto adapted to automatically open at a predetermined temperature and deliver the contents of the container within the tank, a fire extinguishing solution within the container, a gas holder connected to the container, a reducing valve in such connection, and an expelling gas in the holder under pressure the same being adapted to automatically expel the solution at a constant pressure from the container as a spray of the finest mist serving as a blanket, whenever an outlet is opened into the interior of the tank.

3. In automatic fire extinguishing systems, a. suitable tank for inflammable materials, a container, a non-freezing fire extinguishing solution therein, a suitable connection leading therefrom to the tank, a plurality of outlets within the tank connected to the container and adapted to deliver the solution in a finely divided state into the tank and thus extinguish the flames therein, means for automatically opening the outlets at, a predetermined temperature, means for subjecting the solution to the continuous constant pressure of an expelling gas, and means for cofirdinating the exits of the outlets with the pressure to which the solution is subjected to cause the same to be delivered therefrom in a finely divided state.

4. The process of extinguishing fires in tanks, consistin in subjecting a non-freezing fire extinguishing solution to a continuous predetermined pressure, and in causing the solution to be delivered into the fire area within a tank as a spray of the finest mist serving as a blanket so as to deprive the flame of oxygen and thus extinguish it.

5. In automatic fire extinguishing systems, a suitable storage tank, inlets leading into the tank, thermal means for automatically controlling the activity of the inlets, a container for a non-freezing fire extinguishing solution, suitable pipe connections between the container and the inlets, and means for subjecting the solution to a continnous expelling pressure, the intensity of such pressure being so related to the character of the inlets as to force the liquid from the container into the tank in a finely divided state adapted to be readily changed into a gas at a relatively low temperature and serve as a blanket to prevent free access of lgxygen to the burning contents of the tan 6. In automatic fire extinguishing systems, a suitable storage tank, a container, a non-freezing fire extinguishing solution therein, means for delivering the solution into the tank from opposite sides of the tank, outlets serving as exits for the solution, means for automatically controlling the time of such delivery through a variation of temperature within the tank, means for subjecting the solution to a continuous predetermined pressure, and reduced size outlets producing an increase of velocity of the solution so that the same is delivered into the tank in a finely divided state adapted thereby to more readily become gaseous at a relatively low temperature, and forming a blanket of such mist within the tank as to speedily extinguish the fire.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

STEPHEN H. BROOKS. Witnesses O. C. Bownns, MARY F. LINCOLN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

